Who was Thomas Paine?

A Revolutionary Tale: The Story of Thomas Paine

Topic Content: As an introduction to the life of Thomas Paine

Prior Learning: None needed, may have heard of Thomas Paine or seen his statue (Norfolk)

Learning Outcomes:

• Audience enjoyment and involvement
• Understanding of the key facts of Thomas Paine's life
• Understanding that Thomas Paine spoke out against unfairness
• Understanding that central to Paine's ideas were his anti-monachy views, anti-slavery views, pro-democracy views

Starter:

Who or what is the connection between these images?

Picture 1 , Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4 , Picture 5

(Pictures represent: 1- anti-slavery , 2- democracy,  3- American Independence,  4- job as a staymaker, 5- liberty tree- secret meeting place for political activists, he also wrote a song The Liberty Tree)
These images are links to Thomas Paine, his life and works.

The Thomas Paine Story

1. Listen to the story of Thomas Paine 

 Answer the following briefly:

• When was Thomas Paine born?
• What jobs did he do?
• What was life like for the poor in Thomas' day?
• What did Thomas do to help the American War of Independence?
• What did The Rights of Man seek for ordinary people?
• How did he escape the guillotine during the French Revolution?
• After his death, what happened to his bones?
• How are some of his ideas still important today?

2. Paine was a controversial figure many times during his life, celebrated as a hero and condemned as a traitor. Look at these two contemporary images of Paine. Image 1, Image 2

• How does each portray him?
• Why might they be different?
• Whose point of view do you think they reflect?

Teacher's notes:
Image 1: 1793- Cartoon from early in the French Revolution, Paine is ridiculed for seeking/supporting an 'unnatural' state. His staymaking past is lampooned.
Image 2:  From the American Revolution, in a background of celebrating crowds, the figures at the front (including Paine) are reflective, moderate and look well-to-do/educated/intellectual.